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Mortarless and Interlocking Structures: Towards Environmentally Friendly Construction
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Mortarless and Interlocking Structures: Towards Environmentally Friendly Construction

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2025 | Viewed by 3418

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Arcady Dyskin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
Interests: fracture mechanics; mechanisms of crack growth; numerical and analytical methods; topological Interlocking
Prof. Dr. Elena Pasternak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
Interests: mechanics of solids; hybrid materials and materials with internally engineered architecture; higher-order continua, homogenization methods, large deformations modeling; mechanics of topologically interlocking structures and fragmented bodies; fracture mechanics; hydraulic fracturing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, construction methods use considerable amounts of cement, the production of which involves CO2 emission. Another environmental impact is related to the production of waste during structural repairs and especially at the demolition stage at the end of the structure life cycle. Therefore, recycling the waste presents a serious problem.

One of the ways to mitigate these environmental impacts and turn to environmentally friendly construction is to use interlocking structures, whose building blocks have specially engineered contact surfaces to maintain structural integrity. An important feature of the interlocking structures is that they can be demountable, such that after repair or demolition, some blocks can be reused.

This Special Issue invites papers that consider both classical interlocking (through keys and connectors) and topological interlocking based on the special geometry of the blocks together with the specially designed peripheral constraint. Papers considering the design of interlocking blocks, production methods, mechanics and dynamics of interlocking structures, as well as possible applications and the assessment of the environmental impact are welcome.  

Prof. Dr. Arcady Dyskin
Prof. Dr. Elena Pasternak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • topological interlocking
  • osteomorphic blocks
  • vibrational damping
  • structural integrity
  • statics
  • dynamics
  • demountable structures

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 5673 KiB  
Article
From Tilings of Orientable Surfaces to Topological Interlocking Assemblies
by Reymond Akpanya, Tom Goertzen and Alice C. Niemeyer
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(16), 7276; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14167276 - 19 Aug 2024
Viewed by 406
Abstract
A topological interlocking assembly (TIA) is an assembly of blocks together with a non-empty subset of blocks called the frame such that every non-empty set of blocks is kinematically constrained and can therefore not be removed from the assembly without causing intersections between [...] Read more.
A topological interlocking assembly (TIA) is an assembly of blocks together with a non-empty subset of blocks called the frame such that every non-empty set of blocks is kinematically constrained and can therefore not be removed from the assembly without causing intersections between blocks of the assembly. TIA provides a wide range of real-world applications, from modular construction in architectural design to potential solutions for sound insulation. Various methods to construct TIA have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, the approach of constructing TIA by applying the Escher trick to tilings of orientable surfaces is discussed. First, the strengths of this approach are highlighted for planar tilings, and the Escher trick is then exploited to construct a planar TIA that is based on the truncated square tiling, which is a semi-regular tiling of the Euclidean plane. Next, the Escher-Like approach is modified to construct TIAs that are based on arbitrary orientable surfaces. Finally, the capabilities of this modified construction method are demonstrated by constructing TIAs that are based on the unit sphere, the truncated icosahedron, and the deltoidal hexecontahedron. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mortarless and Interlocking Structures: Towards Environmentally Friendly Construction)
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21 pages, 5769 KiB  
Article
Feasibility Assessment of Implementing Semi-Interlocking Masonry as Infill Panels in Framed Building Construction
by Md Akhtar Hossain, Yuri Z. Totoev and Mark J. Masia
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(15), 6729; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14156729 - 1 Aug 2024
Viewed by 431
Abstract
Semi-Interlocking Masonry (SIM) represents an innovative building system developed at the Centre for Infrastructure Performance and Reliability at the University of Newcastle, Australia. This system employs a unique approach to interlocking mortar-less engineered masonry panels constructed from SIM units. These units are designed [...] Read more.
Semi-Interlocking Masonry (SIM) represents an innovative building system developed at the Centre for Infrastructure Performance and Reliability at the University of Newcastle, Australia. This system employs a unique approach to interlocking mortar-less engineered masonry panels constructed from SIM units. These units are designed to offer substantial energy dissipation capacity, primarily attributed to the friction occurring on the sliding bed joints between the units within the panel during seismic events. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the viability of incorporating semi-interlocking masonry as infill panels in the construction of multi-story buildings across diverse geographical locations with varying seismic conditions in Australia. To assess the feasibility of SIM panels in different conditions (according to Australian Standard AS1170) in Australia, a comprehensive analysis using Strand7 R3.1.4 is conducted on a three-story structure incorporating traditional masonry infill panels and SIM panels. Displacement and base shear capacities are compared in response to seismic events across various scenarios in different locations within Australia. The insights gained from this comparative analysis contribute valuable information regarding the viability of implementing SIM as a contemporary construction material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mortarless and Interlocking Structures: Towards Environmentally Friendly Construction)
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23 pages, 10608 KiB  
Article
Multistep Evolution Method to Generate Topological Interlocking Assemblies
by Andres Bejarano and Kathryn Moran
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(15), 6542; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14156542 - 26 Jul 2024
Viewed by 657
Abstract
Research on topological interlocking (TI) assemblies indicates that the geometry of blocks plays a significant role in the performance of a configuration. The current TI generation methods can return assemblies of uniform antiprisms, tetrahedra, cubes, and octahedra. However, other shapes (both convex and [...] Read more.
Research on topological interlocking (TI) assemblies indicates that the geometry of blocks plays a significant role in the performance of a configuration. The current TI generation methods can return assemblies of uniform antiprisms, tetrahedra, cubes, and octahedra. However, other shapes (both convex and concave) are well qualified for use in TI assemblies. This paper presents a framework to generate blocks for TI assembly. Starting from a seed polygon, evolution steps translate and reshape the polygon, contracting it eventually to a point, a line segment, or another polygon. Our framework generalizes and unifies previous-generation methods based on tilting angles and height parameters. We show how the proposed method systematically generates novel TI solids and previously reported others. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mortarless and Interlocking Structures: Towards Environmentally Friendly Construction)
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17 pages, 16017 KiB  
Article
Topological Interlocking Assembly: Introduction to Computational Architecture
by Irina Miodragovic Vella and Sladjana Markovic
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(15), 6409; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14156409 - 23 Jul 2024
Viewed by 525
Abstract
Topological interlocking assembly (TIA) and computational architecture treat form as an emergent property of a material system, where the final shape results from the interplay of geometries and geometric interdependencies influenced by contextual constraints (material, structure, and fabrication). This paper posits that TIA [...] Read more.
Topological interlocking assembly (TIA) and computational architecture treat form as an emergent property of a material system, where the final shape results from the interplay of geometries and geometric interdependencies influenced by contextual constraints (material, structure, and fabrication). This paper posits that TIA is an ideal pedagogical tool for introducing students to computational architecture, and its theoretical foundations and design principles. Specifically, defining TIA as a material system provides a robust educational approach for engaging students with computation; fostering design processes through bottom-up, hands-on investigations; expressing design intents as procedural logic; understanding generative geometric rules; and exploring the flexibility of parametric variations. The methodology is detailed and illustrated through a design workshop and study unit from the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs at the Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta. Four case studies of TIA—of tetrahedra, cones, octahedra, and osteomorphic blocks—demonstrate how these exercises introduce students to computational thinking, parametric design, and fabrication techniques. This paper discusses the advantages and limitations of this pedagogical methodology, concluding that integrating computational architecture in education shifts students’ design processes to investigation and innovation-based approaches, enabling them to address contemporary design challenges through context-driven solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mortarless and Interlocking Structures: Towards Environmentally Friendly Construction)
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15 pages, 6510 KiB  
Article
Interlocking Joints with Multiple Locks: Torsion-Shear Failure Analysis Using Discrete Element and Equilibrium-Based SiDMACIB Models
by Elham Mousavian and Claudia Casapulla
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4475; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114475 - 24 May 2024
Viewed by 693
Abstract
SiDMACIB (Structurally informed Design of Masonry Assemblages Composed of Interlocking Blocks) is the first numerical model capable of extending the equilibrium problem of limit analysis to interlocking assemblies. Adopting the concave formulation, this model can compute the stress state at the corrugated faces [...] Read more.
SiDMACIB (Structurally informed Design of Masonry Assemblages Composed of Interlocking Blocks) is the first numerical model capable of extending the equilibrium problem of limit analysis to interlocking assemblies. Adopting the concave formulation, this model can compute the stress state at the corrugated faces with orthotropic behaviour, such as their combined torsion-shear capacity. Generally speaking, finding the plastic torsion-shear capacity of planar faces shared between conventional blocks is still a fresh topic, while investigating this capacity for interlocking interfaces is particularly rather unexplored. Upon the authors’ previous works that focused on interlocking blocks with a single lock, in this paper, an extension to blocks composed of several locks (multi-lock interfaces) is presented and the SiDMACIB model is upgraded accordingly. For this purpose, the shear-torsion results obtained from the original SiDMACIB formulation are validated and subsequently compared with those derived from distinct element analysis conducted using the 3DEC 7.0 software. Based on this comparison, revisions to the SiDMACIB model are proposed, involving a reduction in the number of locks affecting torsion-shear capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mortarless and Interlocking Structures: Towards Environmentally Friendly Construction)
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